John Clyde Champion

A celebration of life was held Friday, July 15, at AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home in Albany, Ore. Pastor James Carmichael and George Champion officiated. “My Sweet Lord’ was the special song and there was a 12 gun salute.

Mr. Champion, a boiler technician and fire suppression system technician, was born to Hugh and Evelyn Waldrup Champion on July 3, 1951. He went home Monday morning, July 11, at Hospice of Albany, Ore.

Surviving relatives are his wife, Carlene S. Champion; sons, David (Whitney) Champion, Travis Champion and Russell (Leigh) Champion; brother, George Stuart (Pam) Champion of Georgia and David Crawford (Lucinda) Champion of Alabama; beloved aunt, Mrs. Roberta Waldrup of Alabama.

He was preceded in death by parents and sister, Laurel Lou (Sonny) Trenchard of Louisiana.

Mr. Champion spent eight years in the U.S. Navy which included a year at the South Pole “Operation Deep Freeze.” Also, he was one of the first boiler operators at Union Camp’s Thorsby Mill. He was lovingly known as the “Great White Hunter” as he loved hunting and fishing.

Mr. Champion was a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend. His ashes were put in lakes and forests in Oregon, in Miss Evelyn’s herb garden and Sandy Creek in Verbena as well as Hatchett Creek Wildlife Management Area. He was a member of The Grove Church in Albany, Ore.